STACK #179 Sept 2019

TECH FEATURE

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Mic Boom The essential accompaniment for your mic is a boom arm. Manufacturers often sell these separately to mics to keep the cost down, but they can be picked up relatively cheaply. Why do I need one of those, you might ask? Boom arms, especially if you’re using a cardioid mic, allow for the perfect angle to be deployed, irrespective of where you’re sat during the recording process. They also help to reduce any incidental shock noise. The Stadium MICARM is a top option for the budget-conscious.

Essentially, all you need is a computer, software (that you can even source free online), a mic and an audio interface. And of course lashings of creativity and a game plan. But let’s start with the tech.

Headphones A necessary inclusion to your

fledgling set-up. If you’re looking to pick up a good pair of monitor headphones without having to lie to your partner about how much you spent, it’s back to Audio Technica. We’re not on a retainer here; it’s just hard to go past them for price and quality, especially the ATH-M40Xs that will hit the brief perfectly. Delivering crystal clear audio and a comfort fit to rival headphones four times the price, these are just what the doctor ordered for setting levels and listening to your work.

Mic Beyond a laptop or desktop, you’ll need a mic. These vary in price and of course quality. If you’re just starting out and want to experiment with the medium, you won’t want to be dropping hundreds of dollars on a purchase. An excellent starting point is the Audio Technica AT2020 BK condenser mic – you know you’re in safe hands with Audio Technica, a brand name synonymous with quality. A good solid build, the AT2020 delivers a crisp, balanced sound and with its cardioid polar pattern, it limits interference from the sides and rear. And for the price, you really can’t go wrong.

Audio Interface Finally, to round out the package you’ll need an audio interface. Why? Well, your excellent AT2020 XLR mic has, as the name suggests, an XLR cable connection at the end of the mic. XLR is the professional standard and preferable, if the budget extends, to a USB mic . In short, what audio interface does is take an analogue signal via the XLR port – in this case your voice – and converts it to a digital one in your computer. The Focusrite Scarlett range is the entry point here, but with a robust construction and excellent and reliable functionality, look no further than the Focusrite Solo Gen 3.

Courtney Carthy’s seven tips for starting a podcast:

1 Preparation is key. Do your research way before you start to record the podcast. 2 Make a pilot first. 3 Reflect on what you have done – how long did it take, what could’ve been done better, listen to your own voice. Getting feedback by sending it to friends is a great forum to get an honest opinion. 4 Listen critically to the podcasts that you really like and how they were made, and what the podcasters did to make them. 5 Be prepared to fail and don’t give up – do it again. Doing the show doesn’t define your podcast career. 6 Don’t interview people over the phone. If you have to do a long-distance interview, get the interviewee to record it on their mobile phone and send you the file and put it together in post-production. 7 And finally, don’t go into it expecting to make money.

Courtney Carthy creative director of Mushroom Group’s podcast division

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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